More than 600 people, most of them public school educators, have reviewed the proposed "Next Generation Science Standards," and most have recommended Florida adopt them as its own, according to survey information submitted online to the Florida Department of Education.

As of Wednesday, 631 people had reviewed the standards, put together by panels of scientists and 26 states (but not Florida). Eighty eight percent had recommended Florida adopt them.

"The standards are worded quite succinctly. They emphasize the big ideas and science skills rather than collections of facts to be memorized," wrote a Seminole County K-12 educator, who recommended adoption, in the comments section of the survey.

Some, though in favor, also wrote that teachers would need time and training, if they were to teach the proposed standards effectively.

Those standards were adopted after a bruising fight over evolution. The standards required that the subject, for the first time, be taught in Florida's public schools.

The "next generation" standards say much the same and for that reason -- plus their tackling of climate change -- have proved controversial in some quarters around the country.

Some of the comments provided to Florida's education department echoed those views.

"I am concerned that evolution is still being taught as fact and that creation is not addressed as a possible, even viable, explanation of nature and world," wrote a "business/industry" person from Duval County.

A final decision on whether Florida adopts new science standards or revamps its own will be up to the State Board of Education.